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Current action movies borrow from the past

The 1980s were a great time for action movies – they shamelessly provided over-the-top thrills in ridiculous situations and created a whole galaxy of stars known more for fisticuffs than acting.

Sylvester Stallone was one of the most formidable heroes, and with BULLET TO THE HEAD (R, 3 stars), he returns to the kind of overblown potboiler that makes little sense if you scrutinize it, but why exactly would one scrutinize a movie titled “Bullet to the Head”?

Another plus in the film’s throwback vibe is the presence of action maestro Walter Hill, who specializes in the kind of gritty action film in which this aspires to be. Hill’s been relatively quiet of late, and this won’t go down as one of his top-notch efforts, but it certainly is a step up for what has become a watered-down genre.

Stallone stars as Jimmy Bobo, a New Orleans hitman who gets double-crossed after a job, resulting in the death of his partner (Jon Seda). He forms an unlikely, and hostile, alliance with Taylor (Sung Kang) a D.C. cop looking to avenge his own partner’s death by the same crew.

The odd trifecta of bad guys includes Christian Slater, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Jason Momoa, all of whom seem to be having way too much fun going evil. Momoa, especially, is a highlight, as his honorable mercenary adds a needed touch of menace to the proceedings.

There’s plenty of bullets, bantering, explosions and WTF moments, including Jimmy bringing his own special bourbon around to bars and renting glasses, and Taylor’s oh-so-handy phone calls that happen to give him whatever pertinent information is needed to move the plot forward.

This is familiar, comfortable territory for Stallone, and so he delivers just the kind of performance you might expect. And thankfully, there’s very little of the awkward humor that has plagued the “Expendables” series. Plus, how can you not like a movie that ends in a climatic ax fight?

***

Before the bombast of the 1980s, 70s action films were more character driven, focusing less on the boom and more on the conflict between the characters.

For 3/4 of the movie, DEAD MAN DOWN (R, 3 stars) is a surprisingly effective, quietly compelling action flick. Then, it completely goes off the rails in a nutso finale that features a car plowing through a house. But, discounting the discomfiting end, I was pleasantly surprised at this one, especially since it was produced by WWE films – not exactly the bastion of quality.

Colin Farrell stars as Victor, your typical tormented soul. He works as a hired gun for crime lord Alphonse (Terrence Howard) and lives a spartan lifestyle in a nice corner apartment. Across the way, tortured soul Beatrice (Noomi Rapace) watches Victor, and before long, these two awkward individuals have connected.

But there’s a secret that each of them carries. Victor has infiltrated Alphonse’s empire, and is playing with the man’s mind, in order to exact revenge for an earlier crime. Beatrice, having seen Victor kill a man, wants him to kill the person responsible for her disfiguring accident.

As these two damaged people work through their budding relationship, Alphonse is growing suspicious that someone in his crew is out to get him, and assigns Victor’s friend Darcy (Dominic Cooper) to dig up dirt. As this all comes to a head, it unfortunately ends in a wildly inane final showdown that obliterates the moody atmosphere that had been created up to this point.

I always tend to like Farrell more in “quiet” roles, and here he does a fine job as the haunted Victor. Rapace has an equally effective part, and paired with her “Dragon Tattoo” director Niels Arden Oplev, she helps create a dark, solemn vibe that almost carries the film – at least until the 80s butt in.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.